New Zealanders living with multiple sclerosis, breast cancer, eye conditions, and lung cancer could benefit from five medicines proposed for funding by Pharmac.
Pharmac is consulting on a multi-product agreement with Roche that includes new treatments and faster-to-administer types of existing medicines. If approved, the medicines would be funded from 1 December.
“This proposal is expected to improve access to treatment and ease pressure on hospital services,” says Pharmac’s Acting Director Pharmaceuticals, Caroline De Luca.
“We estimate around 1,700 people would benefit in the first year, increasing to 4,000 people after five years.”
The proposal includes new subcutaneous (injection) versions of ocrelizumab (Ocrevus SC) and pertuzumab with trastuzumab (Phesgo), which are currently administered by intravenous (IV) infusion. These new formulations are more convenient to give and are expected to save up to 7,500 infusion hours in the first year, increasing to 12,800 hours by year five.
“These time savings could help manage demand on infusion services and make treatment more convenient – meaning people could spend less time receiving treatment and, in the future, may be able to access care closer to home,” says De Luca.
The five medicines proposed for funding are:
- Faricimab (Vabysmo) – a new injection treatment for people with diabetic macular oedema and wet age-related macular degeneration (eye conditions).
- Entrectinib (Rozlytrek) – a new oral treatment for people with ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer.
- Ocrelizumab (Ocrevus SC) – a new injection (subcutaneous) version of an already funded intravenous (IV) infusion medicine for multiple sclerosis.
- Pertuzumab with trastuzumab (Phesgo) – a new combined injection (subcutaneous) version of two already funded intravenous (IV) infusion medicines for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.
- Bevacizumab (Avastin) – secured ongoing access to this already funded injection treatment for people with certain eye conditions.
“The impact of this proposal is huge. The new subcutaneous injections are significantly quicker to administer than current IV treatments. If approved, it would save an estimated 7,500 hospital infusion hours in year one, and 12,800 by year five. This frees up health professionals to deliver other treatments. This is exactly what I’ve been pushing Pharmac to consider,” said Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac, David Seymour.
“Every year Pharmac looks for ways to free up money for new medicines. For example, the annual tender helps manage how much New Zealand spends on medicines by reducing the cost of those we already fund. Annual tender changes allow Pharmac to free up between $30 million and $50 million annually.”
Pharmac is seeking feedback from clinicians, advocacy groups, and the public. Consultation is open until 5pm, Wednesday 8 October. Feedback can be submitted via the online form linked in the consultation.
